Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balchared’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Balchared’, characterized by its dark red-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balchared’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa x hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balchared’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inGuadalupe, Calif. during October 2019. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with attractivenovelty flower coloration, and a vigorous, mounded-trailing growthhabit.

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoax hybrida breeding selection coded CAL-15282-01, not patented,characterized by its medium red-colored flowers, medium green-coloredfoliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit. Themale (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoax hybrida breeding selection coded CAL-15818-04, not patented,characterized by its medium red-colored flowers, medium green-coloredfoliage, low growth vigor, and compact-mounded growth habit. The newcultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny ofthe above stated cross-pollination during March 2020 in a controlledenvironment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceMarch 2020 in Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true-to-type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balchared’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Dark red-colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and maleparents primarily in having darker red-colored flowers and increasedgrowth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new cultivar is CABARET Red ‘Balcabred20’,U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,956. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plantsof the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balcabred20’ in at least thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have darker red-colored flowers        than plants of ‘Balcabred20’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger diameter corollas than        plants of ‘Balcabred20’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have larger leaves than plants of        ‘Balcabred20’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘Balchared’. The plants were approximately 5-months old. The plants weregrown in 3-gallon containers for approximately 10 weeks in an outdoornursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were pinched twice prior totransplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balchared’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balchared’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheRHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in August 2021 under naturallight conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately5-month-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grownunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in 3-gallon containers for approximately 10 weeks inan outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinchesprior to transplant. Prior to transplant plants were grown in apolycarbonate greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatureswere maintained at approximately 70° F. to 85° F. (21° C. to 29° C.)during the day and approximately 60° F. to 70° F. (16° C. to 21° C.)during the night. Supplemental lighting was used during propagationstage. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplants.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa x hybrida ‘Balchared’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding            selection coded CAL-15282-01, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding            selection coded CAL-15818-04, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,            mounded-trailing.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 22.0 cm. Width: Approximately 67.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 10.        -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 31.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Length of central            internode: Approximately 2.3 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent            with a mixture of non-glandular and glandular hairs. Gland            color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young stems: Color            of young stems: 146C occasionally tinted with N186A. Color            of mature stems: 146D with age becoming woody 199C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.            Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: At acute angle to stem with tip turning            downward. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly            acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of            mature leaf: Approximately 3.5 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 9.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Moderately glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color of upper surface of young and mature            foliage: 137B with midvein of 146C. Color of lower surface            of young and mature foliage: Closest to 138B with midvein of            146D.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Moderately glandular            pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146D.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balchared’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            5 to 7 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 55. Fragrance: None detected.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 23.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:            Approximately 2.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.            Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: Petal portion closest to            185C, tube portion 154C, venation of 144A with N77A.        -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 3.2 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse to broadly minutely acute.            Length from tube: Approximately 1.4 cm. Length of free            portion: Approximately 6.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.5 cm.            Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower            surface: Glandular pubescent, dense along venation. Gland            color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface when            first open: 53A and N45A with an overlay of N77A at throat            opening; midveins of N77A. Color of lower surface when first            and fully open: 185C to 185D midveins of 144A with N77A.            Color of upper surface when fully open: 53A and N45A to N45B            with an overlay of N77A at throat opening; midveins of N77A.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter at            distal end: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.            Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland            color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: 13B            with venation of N77A. Color of outer surface: 154C with            venation of 144A and N77A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 1.3 cm.            Width: Approximately 2.5 mm. Texture of upper and lower            surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface: Color of            upper surface: 137A. Color of lower surface: 137B with base            of 146D.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to            stem. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm to 1.8 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent.            Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,            basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Filament            length of fixed portion: Approximately 4.0 mm. Filament            color: 150D. Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 8C. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: 8D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1            per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Stigma            shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma            color: 146D. Style length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Style            color: 145D. Ovary diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary            color: 145B.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Calibrachoa has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plantnamed ‘Balchared’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.